Preview: TFC return home to face Chivas after tough loss

Looking to break into the win column for the first time this season, Toronto FC play host to Chivas USA on Saturday afternoon at BMO Field. TFC has started the MLS season with four losses in as many matches, after their 2-1 loss at the expansion Montreal Impact last weekend. Chivas USA won for the second time this season away from home last weekend, coming back for a 2-1 triumph at the Portland Timbers.

Chivas USA has won all five meetings in the series at The Home Depot Center. Toronto FC has not scored a goal vs. Chivas in Carson since 2008, a span of 330 minutes, shut out on each of their last three visits there to play Chivas (outscored 8-0).

Toronto FC saw their MLS season-opening losing streak extended to four games, dropping a 2-1 decision to rival Montreal Impact on Saturday afternoon at Olympic Stadium. TFC is in 10th place in the Eastern Conference.

HIGHLIGHTS: TFC fall to arch-rival Montreal

LAST MATCH

The Impact took the lead after 18 minutes. Lamar Neagle intercepted a ball in midfield and found a wide-open Sinisa Ubiparipovic, who side-footed a shot from just outside the box past goalkeeper Milos Kocic.

Toronto FC suffered a blow when defender Logan Emory was sent off after 65 minutes for denying forward Sanna Nyassi a goalscoring opportunity.

Montreal doubled their lead nine minutes from the end after a one-on-one ball chase between Andrew Wenger and TFC central defender Ty Harden, with the rookie able to latch onto the ball in the penalty area and fire home past Kocic.

TFC scored a late goal when Reggie Lambe put in a cross from the left and Danny Koevermans steered home a header, but Montreal held on for the historic win.

TFC head coach Aron Winter made no changes to the team that fell 1-0 to the Columbus Crew at BMO Field.

At 0-4-0, Toronto FC have equaled the worst start to a season in club history, matching four losses in their first four games ever. TFC won game five in the club's history, defeating the Chicago Fire 3-1 on May 12, 2007.

"It's very simple, in the coming weeks I'm going to change some things," TFC head coach Aron said. "Zero points out of four games. I prefer to do it different with some players who are not making those mistakes or they want to battle."

The loss in Montreal came on the heels of a 6-2 loss to Club Santos Laguna in Mexico in the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals. TFC has conceded 19 goals in eight games in all competitions this season.

"We need to take them out of the game," defender Richard Eckersley said. "If we take them out of the game, then we'll win games. Mistakes happen, you can accept that. But they can't happen every week. We're professional footballers and we need to take it out of the game. ... "It's concentration. It's concentration on the day when we should all be focused. It's basics. Obviously it's affecting us now. We're looking to change that [this] weekend."

Danny Koevermans scored TFC's first league goal since the season opener two minutes from full time, ending a run of 296 minutes in MLS play without a goal - long in the league this season.

"What I didn't like when you're playing what you call a derby then you have to see it on the pitch that you want to battle, but I missed it from our side," Winter said.

Winter said former German international Torsten Frings is "days away" from again being available for selection - possibly as soon as this weekend.

"He's very close to coming back. He's training, but not with the group," Winter said. " ... Torsten is very important for the team. It's not only about his qualities that he has technically, but also his leadership. And those things we missed."

The TFC rearguard could also be bolstered by the return of Canadian international Adrian Cann, who has not figured this season because of knee surgery.

"Everything is possible; we are going to try to bring in also some other players," Winter said. "I have to. They are playing decent and we are a little bit weak defensively. I want to win. I want to get the points."

CHIVAS USA

Chivas USA went back out on the road and won for the second time this season, coming back for a 2-1 victory against the Portland Timbers on Saturday evening at Jeld-Wen Field. Chivas USA sit in seventh place in the Western Conference with 6 points from 5 games.

HIGHLIGHTS: Chivas USA come from behind in Portland

LAST MATCH

The Timbers took advantage to score the opening goal in the 16th minute. Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy collided with defender James Riley while trying to clear a ball played into the box. With the two lying defenseless, Kris Boyd collected the ball and coolly slotted a shot into the open net.

But after the break, the visitors grabbed control of the match. Three minutes after the break, halftime substitution Ryan Smith sent in a beautifully placed cross that Alejandro Moreno headed home inside the near corner.

Chivas USA continued to press and found the game-winner off another perfect cross, this time from near the sideline by Smith in the 82nd minute. Nick LaBrocca was there to head it in and secure a second win in two road games for Chivas.

Chivas USA head coach Robin Fraser made three changes to the team that went down to a 1-0 defeat to Sporting Kansas City at The Home Depot Center. Ben Zemanski and Blair Gavin came into the midfield and Cesar Romero started up top, replacing Ryan Smith, Laurent Courtois and Casey Townsend.

Both of Chivas USA's wins this season have come on the road, after the 2-1 win at Portland on Saturday. Chivas have lost all three of their games at The Home Depot Center.

"From the second half at the very beginning, we came out and put our stamp on the game," Chivas USA head coach Robin Fraser said, "and in the second half, the execution was so much better. Our confidence grew and, as a result, we were able to put them on their heels."

Ryan Smith recorded his second career two-assist game in Chivas USA's win Saturday. Smith had two assists for Kansas City vs. Philadelphia in his first MLS season, on June 10, 2010.

"I just came in and did what I get paid for," Smith said. "I just put the ball in, dangerous service, and try and help us score goals. It's all instinct for me, when I have the ball at my feet I love it, and to dribble at players and beat people on the run. But there is no point in that if you can't get a good service in.

Said Fraser: "Smith was brilliant. He came in in the second half and, right from the outset, he put his stamp on the game. He was immediately giving the right backs some problems and was looking to be a threat. In the end of the day, he got two assists and put in a number of good crosses."

Chivas scored multiple goals in a game for the first time this season - tripling their yearly output in just 90 minutes.

"Without a doubt, we like goals in any way that we can get them," Fraser said, "but certainly, if you can through good and efficient movement and passing get yourself into good goal scoring opportunities, then you really can't ask for any more than that."

Chivas have still allowed just four goals on the season and have not allowed more than a single goal in any game this year.

"The guys were saying that last year, this would have been a game that we'd lose normally," Smith said, "and we won (vs. Portland) and everyone should be proud of themselves. We needed this big-time, and we delivered."

During the week, Chivas performed another cross-Home Depot Center trade, acquiring midfielder Paolo Cardozo from the LA Galaxy in exchange for defender David Junior Lopes.

"He fits in the different positions," said Chivas USA general manager Jose Domene. "For me as a GM, we've looked for players like Paolo to play on top of the [midfield] diamond or as an attacking midfielder if we play with five in the midfield. But he gives you a lot of versatility because he could also play wide. I see him a bit more as an attacking midfielder so we have a few more options in that position."